Alas chapter three is complete! I hope you all are enjoying the story so far. If you have any ideas or suggestions don't be afraid to leave a review so I can continue to improve on my writing skills.

-Fallen Angel

Chapter 3

Life as we know it

"Ariana! Ariana wake up!

The cat cracked an eye open and hissed in surprise at the face currently shoved into hers. Harry Jumped back to avoid the girl's sharp claws and tried not to snicker and the cat's puffed up look.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you. It's time to get dressed and go down stairs."

The boy patted the stack of clothes that sat next too him. Ariana stretched and surveyed the room.

"Are we alone?"

Harry nodded.

"Yeah everyone is already down at breakfast, I figured you'd want to shower and change first."

The cat nodded then quickly shifted forms causing the boy to fall over in surprise. Ariana giggled at her brother's look, stretched and picked up the pile of clean clothes.

"Seriously harry, you need to stop being so jumpy."

The raven haired boy rolled his eyes as he stood up, and pointed up the stairs to the girl's dorms.

"I'll remember that, you can shower up there, I'll wait for you then we can walk down together.

The girl smiled.

"I would love that."

The walk to the great hall was filled with nervous chatter as Ariana quizzed Harry about everything she was supposed to do.

"Ariana relax, You'll do great all you have to do is wait for your name to be called, walk up there and let them put the hat on your head."

Harry said, smiling when he caught sight of the door to the great hall and headed for it.

Ariana suddenly stopped and grabbed His wrist causing him to stop as well.

The boy turned to face her, suddenly worried when he noticed she had her head down, face hidden behind her dark red hair.

"Hey you ok?"

She nodded slightly, still looking down.

"You know, I never thought I would ever find you, much less attend the same school as you."

Harry stood there silently, listening to every word that fell from his sister's lips. He noticed that it didn't take long for a bond to start to form between them. Even now he could feel the fear, worry, excitement and gratefulness that battle within the changeling.

Ariana peeked through her eyelashes at her brother and offered him a shy smile.

"I just wanted to say thank you for being here."

The boy smiled and to Ariana's surprise, pulled her into a bone crushing hug.

"You don't need to thank me, we're family and now that I have you I don't plan on letting you go."

The girl smiled and buried her face in her brother's neck.

"That means a lot to me."

Harry pulled back and looked into his sister's face with a smile and offered her his hand.

"You ready for this? We'll do it together."

Ariana grinned and placed her hand in his.

"Of course."

The students looked up in confusion as Dumbledore stood and called the room to attention.

Fred and George shared identical grins which Hermione caught sight of.

"And what are you two so pleased about? Do you know what's going on?"

Red hair swishes as they shake their heads.
"Nope…"

"Not a clue."

The brunette studied them for a moment. Clearly not believing them.

"You two are acting very strange, come to think of it so was Harry. HE came into the common room with a folded up girls uniform and as I was leaving I spotted him talking to a cat that was sleeping near the fireplace."

George spared his brother a glance.

"You don't say."

The three turned their attention back to the headmaster who was finishing his speech.

"Seeing as how we seemed to receive a late student last night, she will be sorted now. SO without further ado I call forth Ariana Potter!"

Every student besides two gasped in shock and every head turned towards the door as they opened revealing Harry Potter. His hand intertwined with a stranger's.

The twins on the other hand were more keen on observing Ariana herself then observing the fact that she was even in the building.

Hair that was once ratty and dingy now hung past her hips in a smooth curtain of dark red.

Skin that was grey with dirt was revealed to be milky white only marred by the occasional scar.

Chocolate eyes traced curves, wondering if they felt and smooth as they looked, before suddenly meeting with a pair of darkly glowing emerald orbs.

Twin blushes rose up in the boys' cheeks as they quickly looked away, trying to focus in on anything that was not Ariana Potter.

Ariana gripped her brother's hand tightly as they made their way to Dumbledore. Once at the foot of the Stairs harry turned to face him offered her a smile and kissed her forehead before moving away and leaving her to finish the journey alone.

It seemed like it took forever to walk up those few steps. The only thing that the red haired girl seemed to hear was the sound of her own rapid heartbeat, echoing in her ears like the wings of a trapped hummingbird.

She glanced at the stool, noticing just how tiny it really was, and decided to stand; Facing the audience f interested students as Dumbledore put the hat upon her head.

"Well Well, I was wondering when I'de get to examine your head."

Ariana glanced up as the hat spoke rolling her eyes in mild amusement.

"And is it what u expected?"

The hat sighed as it continued to root around in her mind.

"Not really, I was hoping to put at least one of you Potters in Slytherin, but while your brother would have done well there. You however will not. Hmm this is truly difficult"

The girl blushed and glared at the cold stone floor as if it were the cause of her current embarrassment. She never thought she would see the day when someone one was upset over the fact that she would not do well as a slytherin.

"Well excuse me for being such trouble but I can't exactly help the fact that I am who I am!"

The hat laughed at her indignant tone.

"Oh hush you, I meant no offense. Hmm Ravenclaw would exercise that brilliant mind but unfortunately I don't think your logically adept, you seem more imaginative but Huffle puff would frusterate you too much, you to brash hardheaded and cynical. Do not misunderstand, you do have some Slytherin tendencies such as you can be slightly manipulative, you can be cold, calculating and occasionally you lean to the darker side. But it just don't fit you… Well I suppose all Potters must be alike because it better be…"

"Gryffindor!"

The Hat yelled the name allowed and the entire table exploded into applause. Ariana ran down the stairs, eager for her head examination to end, and searched for her brother. Once she spotted him however she felt her heart drop as she notice both sides next to the ravenhaired boy were full. Now feeling slightly insecure, she glanced around for an empty seat when she spotted to very familiar red heads gesturing to an empty spot between them which Arian quickly and gladly occupied.

"Oi! Fancy meeting you here."

The two spoke then laughed together. Ariana rolled her eyes, trying to ignore how warm and comfortable it was between the twins.

"You two are going to drive me insane I just know it."

Each twin threw an arm around her shoulders both leaning in, their breath tickling her ears.

"At least you won't be bored…"

"After all you'll have us to entertain you."

The burgundy haired girl laughed, catching her brother's eye and sending him a wink.

"Well Ain't that the truth!"

I know I know strange place to end but I felt that I reached the ending for this chapter and it needed to be put to rest.

Remember comments, ideas and reviews are always welcome and encouraged.